Britain's golden girl scoops award

Kelly Holmes is looking forward to a well-deserved break at home with her family over Christmas after adding the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award to her double Olympic gold.

The 34-year-old, who used to be a former army physical training instructor, saw her life changed for ever following the victories over 800 and 1500m in Athens.

She received a hero's welcome upon returning to her hometown of Tonbridge in Kent, where crowds of around 80,000 lined the streets in an emotional civic ceremony.

And last night she topped the BBC poll ahead of rower Matthew Pinsent and England cricketer Andrew Flintoff, accepting the award from fellow Olympic champion Lord Sebastian Coe to mark the end of a glitzy sporting review of the last 12 months at Television Centre in Shepherd's Bush.

"I haven't been at home for Christmas for the past few years because I have been away training and dedicating myself on each season - so all the awards that I have won, along with my medals and my [BBC] trophy, are going to be at home with my mum and my family and I am going to thoroughly enjoy myself," she said.

Holmes admitted last night's ceremony had been the perfect way to end the year, saying: "It was the icing on the cake.

'Greatest sporting honour'

"It is the greatest sporting honour your country can give you - I was shaking like a leaf beforehand, I was so nervous.

"I have just been overwhelmed by the public. I never realised how many people were so touched by what I did."

Since her Olympic triumph, Holmes has mixed with film stars and royalty, and will be signing copies of her Olympic diary in London this afternoon.

She reflected: "It has been crazy, but I have enjoyed every minute of it."

However, the middle-distance athlete has no plans to retire just yet.

"I am going to continue running next year and my motivation is now to enjoy it, that I can be there because I want to, not because I have to," she declared.

"Now I can stand on the line and be announced as double Olympic champion with the biggest smile on my face."

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, fresh from the Gunners' 2-2 draw in the Barclays Premiership with leaders Chelsea, was presented with the Coach of the Year award following his side's amazing season which saw them win the championship while remaining unbeaten.

"I must say it was a lucky season and I would just like to once again thank all of the players who did so remarkably well, my staff, all the people at Arsenal, because there is a great, great spirit in the club," reflected Wenger.

Five finalists for Team award

For the first time it was the public who chose the team award.

There were five finalists - with Arsenal, England's cricketers, the victorious European Ryder Cup side, the Olympic 4x100m men's relay squad and the coxless four rowers all in contention.

And it was the heroics of Steve Williams, James Cracknell, Ed Coode and now four-time Olympic gold medalist Pinsent which won the viewers' vote.

The oarsman was quick to pay tribute to coach Jurgen Grobler and also Alex Partridge, who was forced to withdraw from the squad because of a collapsed lung - Britain's boat named in his honour.

"We weren't a team of four - we were a team of six. Jurgen Grobler was the main part of that," said Pinsent, who earlier this month announced his retirement. "That eight-one-hundredths (of a second winning margin) was almost all down to him."

England cricket legend Ian Botham received the Lifetime Achievement award in recognition of the major impact the 49-year-old has had on the world of sport.

He reflected afterwards: "It is not just the cricket side, it is about the other side of what we do, the charity work, and there is a whole team responsible for that."

Federer tops Overseas poll

The Overseas Personality went to Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer, who won three of the four Grand Slams, successfully defending his Wimbledon crown along the way.

And it was a potential All England Club champion of the future, Andrew Murray, who picked up the Young Sports Personality Award.

The 17-year-old Scot lifted the US Open boys singles title at Flushing Meadow earlier this year.

The efforts of another youngster were also recognised when nine-year-old Kirsty Howard received the Helen Rollasson award for her charity fund-raising achievements.

England captain David Beckham recorded a special message of congratulations for Kirsty, who was born with her heart back to front, so all other organs are misplaced.

She was given just six weeks to live during February 1999, yet despite being terminally ill has already raised some £3million for poorly children.